Nine-hour battery life – hit or myth?

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Curious as to how Samsung achieved its nine-hour road trip with the X520 – we’re assuming the laptop was switched on for the duration and not just used as a footrest. We also ran a test that involved slowly scrolling a text document and under these far less strenuous conditions, battery life increased to just a few minutes shy of five hours.

Battery life claims were a challenge to match in our tests

Flicking the Samsung Optimized power setting on – which among other things throttles the CPU at fifty per cent – and banishing Wi-Fi saw a further increase to a little over six hours, but is still a way off Samsung’s nine-hour figure.

Indulge in a mix of web browsing, word processing and music listening, and you can expect around four hours out of the X520 when unplugged. And tipping our scales at 2.2kg - 2.5kg with the power adaptor included - it won’t weigh you down too much on your travels.

Verdict

With its good, albeit not nine-hour, battery life and a rather enticing design, the X520 certainly has its plus points. And despite some unnecessary design imperfections, such as the springy numeric keypad and thin trackpad buttons, it’s a decent choice for mobile workers. Alternatively, if you’re willing to shave an inch off the display, the X420 will save you around £50. ®